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Where's Your Passion? 4 Points from the book of Philippians: Part 2

3. Positivity - Philippians 4:8“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

As part of the pop culture out there, it’s popular to think that being dark or gory is funny and lighthearted. It’s actually the opposite. There’s nothing light about death (different case for eternity), killing, murder, theft, being rude, basically any sin. Abortion is another big ordeal that people “rejoice” in doing. If you are a mother or father to a child, you are crazy to want to have an abortion. God beautifully made that child and here you are supporting Planned Parenthood and abortion clinics that clearly go against what God has to say. God is the giver and taker of life and while it may be your choice you have no right to take that baby’s life away. Since the Fall of man people have been finding delight in death or anything that will satisfy their revenge or any hate. The Romans were experts of knowing how to abuse people so much that it would kill them yet they knew how to keep them alive. When Christ was crucified many were watching and mocking, scoffing at him. They tarried in that feeling of vengeance and evil.

Why rejoice in what Christ came to defeat? He defeated darkness, sin, satan, witchcraft, etc….don’t run back to what God saved you from! It may seem fun for a time but sin has a season and for everything there are consequences. God wants us to focus on what is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, & of good report. Don’t look at pictures and movies that promote evil. Be careful what music you listen to. Music, like many other things, is amoral meaning it’s not right or wrong as a general but it’s in the grey area. There’s wrong and there is right obviously. If you are listening to hard metal, skillet, beatbox, rock, pop, or something with words that are filthy as trash, I promise you it has no substance in your walk with God and instead it’s probably hindering you. If the music speaks to your feet before it reaches your heart, you probably need to check your music and reevaluate whether it’s godly or not.

A good percentage of teenagers, small children, & adults alike deal with depression and it’s caused by what’s coming into us. What’s coming into your body will show outside results. It’s like with a person who likes to eat food. If they eat way too much they will gain weight, if they aren’t eating enough their body isn’t getting enough nutrients so the body is robbing other parts of the body to get what it needs. You wouldn’t give a child a whole whopping steak nor would you continue an adult on just milk. It’s the same way with our walk with God. As a Christian you need to be spiritually feeding yourself and stop relying on what your pastors, youth leaders, and teachers show you. It’s not enough to last for the whole week. I’m sure no one forgot or thought to eat in the last 24 hours. You wouldn’t hurt yourself by depriving your body of that nutrition. Spiritually that is the same way. It’s important that you’re feeding your spiritual walk with God and not feeding your flesh with temptations and sin.

Instead of being so pessimistic and so negative, think on the positive side. For every negative thought replace it with a positive one. You may have failed that science quiz? Okay, don’t stop there study harder! If you want something they say you’ll find any way to make sure you get it. Constantly we hear people hurting themselves with their own words. People say they are nothing, no one cares, no one is watching, if they passed on not a person would notice. Friend, that is such a lie! Satan feeds these lies through society’s propaganda that slowly we start buying into it. You may not be the most intelligent or the most beautiful/handsome, athletic, guy or gal out there but just the same God created you in His image and you need to take care of yourself. In 1 Corinthians it talks about that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost. If you question whether something is good or bad, if what you did was right or wrong think this, if Jesus was with you would He be pleased? Would He say well done thy good and faithful servant? If you’re questioning if something is wrong there’s a good chance it probably is. So here’s the deal, do you want your spiritual relationship with God to grow? If so, you will remove whatever is keeping you in being just that.

#4 Sacrifice - Philippians 1:21-22“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.”

I think it would be close to accurate to say that most Christians want some type of relationship with God. They wouldn’t say “Oh yeah I want my spiritual walk to fail.” At the beginning of each year, Christians especially, make choices about reading their Bible more and praying or something to do with spiritually. About 92% of the time they don’t even make it to April. Why? They let other things take priority and put other things before God. When Jesus died he wasn’t thinking about Himself, but was thinking about us. In Luke 23:34 he said “Father, forgive them: for they know not what they do." That is a powerful statement. Not only was he not bitter and he forgave, but he gave of Himself as a sacrifice for us. As teenagers in America there isn’t much we have to sacrifice. No one is coming to your house pointing a gun at your head and making you believe in a false god. Out in the middle east and places like North Korea our fellow brothers and sisters have to be careful. Missionaries sacrifice of themselves because they see the great importance of warning lost souls of where they will spend eternity. Again, about that friend you know, are you more concerned about them getting mad over what the Bible says? Or are you more concerned about their spiritual condition? Charles Haddon Spurgeon said “If sinners be damned, at least let them LEAP to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped around their knees. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let no one go unwarned or unprayed for.” You may lose your friendship with that certain someone but it matters so much more for their spiritual condition! You are not a true friend to them if you keep your faith and your God a secret. People need to hear the truth. You may get a few bad words but be willing to make a sacrifice for something that truly matters. Hollywood, popularity, netflix, anime, being a genius, being athletic, harry potter, social media, your riches and 5 minute fame, anything! You fill in that blank. None of it will matter when comparing it to eternity and serving God. Are you willing to sacrifice something for someone else? Do you have a passion to see souls saved and lives changed? You say you do but did you even tell anyone about Jesus this week? About how your sin was washed clean and covered under the blood? Maybe even mention how because of God your life has changed?

Let those questions sink in for a bit and that will help you realize where’s your passion in life and what you truly care for.

Philippians 4:6 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

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